Timer for internal-combustion engines.



, LB ROY o. CHOWNING.

TIMER FOR 'INTERNAL GQMBUSTION ENGINES,

' A'PPLIOATIO'N,PIYLEDJVUM' a, 1999.

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vLB- RoY c. CHOWNING. TIMER EUR INTERNAL 'GOMBUSTIOL ENGINES;

' FP -LIUATIONULED JUNE s. 1909. g

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Patented Feb. 15, 1910..

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LE ROY CHURCHILL CHOWNING, F CORNING, NEW

TIMER FR INTERNAL-COMBUSTIQN ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ltatented Feb. 15, 1919.

Application led June 3, 1909. Serial No. 499,852.

To all whom it may concern:

Bc it known that l, Ln Roi CHUnoiiiLL CHowNiNo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Corning, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in r'limers for InternalCombustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the timing devices for controlling the electric spark producing apparatus by which the charges in the engine cylinders are ig nited; and the object of my invention is to producea timing device which will be posi tive in operation; in'which all the parts will be exposed for inspection and lubrication; and in which thewear will be reduced to a minimum.

I attain .my object by constructing the timer in the manner illustrated inthe ac* companying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section through my timing device, on the line a-a in Fig. 2; Fig. 9, an end View of the timer; Fig. 3, a plan view thereof; and Figs. 4 and 5, details showin the rocker arm, and one of the contact rings, respectively.

Lilie numerals designate like parts in the several views.

This timer is designed to be applied to an engine cam shaft, 1, where it projects through the bearing .2. It consists of a bushing 3, provided with a shoulder it at its inward end, andifastencd to the cam' shaft by means of a setscrew. Upon this bushing rings G, 7, 8, and 9, of vulcanized ber, 'or other suitable nonconducting material, 'are mounted, the ring 8 being of smaller diameter than the other rings, to receive a brass ring 10, all the rings being fastened upon the bushin' by means of the nut .11. As thus arrange., the timer is designed for a three cylinder engine; it being understood that there will be more or less of the rings, 7, and 9, according to the number of cylinders on the engine. Each of these'rings 6, 7, and 9, is provided with a Contact block 12, which is placed in electrical connection with the brass ring by means of screws 13, the screws for the blocks on the rings 6 and 7 being passed through said rings and into the brass ring 10 upon the left hand side of Fig. 1. The rin s 6, 7, and 9, will be so positioned on the locate the contact -blocks 12, carried thereby,

ushing as to at angular distances of 120", to correspond with the engine crank positions. Roller` brushes 14 rest upon the perimeters of the rings 6,'7, 10, and 9, said rollers being mounted in arms l5, pivoted upon a rod 16, fastened to the rocker arm 17; by the adjustment of which arm the sparks lmay be advanced or retarded. This rocker arm is carried upon a ring 18, which in turn mounted upon a flanged ring 19, screwed fast to the outer face of the bearing 2, around the cam shaft; and the rocker arm is held lin adjustment by means of a set screw 20.

The hubs of the arms are bushed with fiber or other nonconducting material, as shown at 21 in Fig. 3, where oneI of the hubs is shown in section, and between the hubs on the several arms fiber washers 22 are insertcd to insulate the arms from one another. At 23 the hubs are provided with binding screws, whereby the wires Qet, which lead to the spark plugs on the cylinders 25, are electrically connected with the roller brushes 14. The arm which carries the roller brush in contact with the br' ring 1G is connected with the wire 2G which runs to the dynamo or other source of electricity, the circuit between the dynamo and the cylinders bcing made by ground or wire connections, as i indicated by the wire 27. Thus, as each contact block 12 passes beneath a roller brush 14, the circuit is closed, for producing a spark in that particular cylinder', through the ring 10, the screws 13, and the blocks. The roller brushes are held in contact with the rings by means of springs 28 which press downward upon the arms 15, said springs encircling pins 29, which .project upward from said arms through insulating bushings 30 in the guido bar 91, which bar is fastened to a branch of the rocker arm 17. The upper ends of the springs 8 bear against wasl'icrs which engage the bushings 30.

The rings, 'when assembled, form in effect a cylinder of insulating material in which the several contacts are embedded, the separate rings beine' used for facilitating manufacture and adjustment'.

Instead of the continuous circuit closing ring contact 10, might set into the cylinder separate ring sections, or blocks, similar to the make-and-break contact blocks, placing a section opposite each make-and-break `contact and connecting it therewith by a screw 13.

As so constructed, all the parts of the timer are open for inspection, and the adjustnient to advance or retard the sparks is easily reached 'itnd readily manipulated. Friction is reduced to a minimum, and there can be no sparking between the brushes and the contact blocks. The bearings are all Within reach for oiling; and the life of the timer is practically unlimited.

lVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. The combination, with an internal combustion engine, of a timer comprising a plurality ofi-make and break contacts mounted in a revoluble cylinder of insulating material to rotate in separate annular paths, said contacts being set in angular adjustment to one another around the cylinder in conformity With the engine crank positions and eX- posed at the surface of the cylinder, a cuir# cuit closing contact mounted in the cylinder to rotate ina path separate from the other contacts but in electrical connection with them, brushes held in contact with the cylinder in the line of travel of the several contacts, said brushes being insulated from one another, and electrical connections leadingY from the brushes for the make and break contacts to the engine spark plugs and from the brush for the circuit closing contact to a source of current supply.

2. The combination, with an internal combustion engine, of a timer comprising a plurality vof make and break contacts mounted in a revoluble cylinder of insulating material to rotate in separate annular paths, said contacts being set in angular adjustment tolone another around the cylinder in conformity with the engine crank positions and exposed at the surface of the cylinder, a circuit closing contact mounted in the cylinder Ato rotate in a path separate from the other contacts but in electrical connection with4 them, brushes held in contact with the cylinder in the line of travel of the several contacts, said brushes being insulated from one another, electrical connections leading from the brushes for the make and break contacts to the engine spark plugs and from the brush for the circuit closing contact to a source of current supply, and means for setting the brushes forward or back around the cylinder axis to advance or retard the s arks.

3. The combination, with an interna combustion engine, of a timer comprising a plurality of make and break 4contacts mounte in a revoluble cylinder of insulating material to rotate in separate annular paths, said contacts being set in 'angular adjustment to one another around the cylinder in conformity with the engine crankl positions and exposed at the sur' ace of the cylinder, a circuit closing contact mounted in the cylinder to rotate in a path separate from the other contacts but in electrical connection With them, roller brushes carried by arms mounted on a support positioned parallel to the axis of the cylinder, said arms being insulated from one another and from the support., and electrical connections leading from the brushes for the make and break contacts to the engine spark plugs and from the brush for the circuit closing contact to a source of current supply.

4, The combination, with an internal combustion engine, of a timer comprising a plurality of make and break contacts mounted in a revoluble cylinder of insulatingvmaterial to rotate in separate annular paths, said contacts being set in angular adjustment to 'one another around the cylinder in conformity' with the engine crank.

positions and exposed at the surfiice of the cylinder, acircuit closing contact mounted in the cylinder to rotate in a path separate fromthe other contacts but in electrical connection with them, roller brushes carried by arms mounted on a support positioned parallel to the axis of the cylinder, a rocker arm from which said support projects, `means for setting the rocker arm forward or back around the cylinder axis, and electrical connections leading from the brushes for the make and break contacts to the en ine spark plugs and from the brush for t e circuit closing contact toa source of current supply.

5. The combination, with an internal combustion engine, of a timer comprising a plurality of make and break contacts mounted in a revoluble cylinder of insulating material to rotate in separate annular paths, said contacts being set inangular adjustnient to one another around the cylinder in conformity .with the engine crank positions and exposed at the surface of the cylinder, a circuit closing contact mounted in Lhe cylinder to rotate in a path separate t rom the other contacts but in electrical connection with them, ioller brushes carried 'by arms pivotally mounted on a support positioncd parallel to the axis of the cylinder, a rocker arm from vwhich said support projects, a bar projecting from the rocker arm over the brush arms, springs positioned between said bar and the arms to press the roller brushes against the cylinder, means for scttingthe rocker arn forward or back around the cylinder axigf and electrical connections leading from -the brushes for the make and break contacts to the engine spark plugs and from the brush for the circuit closing contact to a source of current supply.

G. The combination, with an internal combustion engine, of a timer comprising a plurality of rings of insulating material, means for fastening said rings one against another upon the cam shaft ot the engine, make and break contacts on said rings, said contacts being set in angular adjustment to one another around the shaft in conformity with the engine crank positions, a circuit closing contact on one of the rings in electrical connection with the other contacts, brushes held in contact with the cylinder in the iineof travel oi the several contacts, said brushes being insulated from one another, and electrical connections leading from the brushes for the make and break contacts to the engine spark plugs and from the brush for the circuit closingcontact to a source of current supply.

7. The combination, with an internal combustion engine, of a timer comprising a bushing adapted to be fastened upon the engine cam shaft, a plurality of rings of nsnlating material fastened one against another upon said bush-ing, make and break contacts on said rings, said contacts being set in angular adjustment to one another around the shaft in conformity with the engine crank positions7 a circuit closing contact onv one of the rings in electrical connection with the other contacts, a rocker arm mounted on the cam shaft bearing to turn around the shaft, means for fastening the rocker arm in desired positions around the shaft, brushes mounted on a support projectingl,r from the rock arm parallel to the shaft, said brushes contacting with the several rings and being insulated from one another, and electrical connections leading LE ROY CHURCHILL CHOWNNG.

lVitnesses FRANK H. Fnmzrs, HUGH Talisman DANM. 

